SVG vs PNG for logos: which format to use (and when)
For a logo, keep the master as SVG and use it anywhere the format is supported — it stays sharp at any size and weighs almost nothing. Reach for PNG only when you need a fixed-size raster image or a place that will not accept SVG, such as most social profiles. For print, hand over a vector PDF or EPS. Never use JPG for a logo.
On this page
What is the difference between SVG and PNG?
The difference is vector vs raster. An SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) describes a logo as shapes — points, curves, and fills — defined by math. It is re-drawn at whatever size it appears, so it stays sharp everywhere. Being code, it is also tiny for the clean geometry of most logos, often just a few kilobytes.
A PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster image: a fixed grid of pixels with a set width and height. It supports transparency, so a logo sits cleanly on any color — but shown larger than it was exported, the pixels stretch and the edges soften.
When should you use SVG?
Make SVG your master file and your default for anything on screen:
- Websites and web apps — the logo in the header, footer, and hero. Modern browsers render SVG perfectly crisp on every screen, including retina and 4K.
- Anywhere the logo must scale — responsive layouts and high-density displays.
- As the single source you export everything else from.
- Favicons, since modern browsers accept an SVG favicon.
When should you use PNG?
Use PNG when you need a fixed-size raster or a place that will not take SVG:
- Social profile pictures and cover images — most platforms only accept raster uploads, so export a square PNG at the size each one recommends.
- Some email clients and signature tools that do not render SVG reliably.
- Documents, slide decks, and marketplaces that only take raster images.
- Quick previews and thumbnails.
SVG vs PNG at a glance
| What matters | SVG (vector) | PNG (raster) |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling | crisp at any size | fixed size; blurs when enlarged |
| File size (logos) | tiny for simple marks | grows with dimensions |
| Transparency | yes | yes |
| Editability | shapes and colors stay editable | flattened pixels |
| Best for | web, master file, scaling | avatars, fixed-size raster, uploads |
| Compatibility | modern browsers and design tools | accepted almost everywhere |
What about EPS, PDF, AI — and JPG?
SVG and PNG cover the web, but a complete logo package usually includes a couple of others:
- PDF — a vector format nearly every printer and office tool accepts. This is the safest file to hand to a print shop.
- EPS — an older vector format some printers still request. Treat it as a print-compatibility export, not something you use day to day.
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) — a working/source file. If a designer made your logo, keep the AI (or the SVG) archived as the editable original.
- JPG — avoid it for logos. JPG has no transparency, so it forces a background box around the mark, and its compression is lossy, which smears crisp edges. It is built for photos, not logos.
Keep the SVG as your single source of truth. Every PNG, favicon, PDF, and social image should be exported from it — never the other way around. Tracing a PNG back into a vector rarely matches the original.
Can you convert a PNG back to an SVG?
Not cleanly. Converting a PNG to SVG means tracing the pixels into shapes, which rarely matches the original and often produces messy paths. If you have the SVG, always start there. If all you have is a low-resolution PNG, it is usually better to rebuild the mark as a vector than to auto-trace it.
What about favicons and app icons?
A favicon is just a very small version of your logo, so export it from the SVG: an SVG favicon for modern browsers, plus small PNGs (for example 32×32 and a 180×180 Apple touch icon) for broad compatibility. The same rule applies to app icons — generate the sizes each platform asks for from the vector master. See how to make a favicon from your logo.
The short answer
Design and store your logo as SVG, use it on the web, export PNG for fixed-size raster placements, hand printers a PDF or EPS, and skip JPG entirely. Keep the vector master and you can produce any size or format later without losing quality.
Create a logo and export SVG, PNG and faviconFrequently asked questions
Is SVG better than PNG for logos?
For a logo, usually yes: SVG is a vector, so it stays sharp at any size and is tiny for simple marks. PNG is still useful for fixed-size raster placements like social avatars and tools that cannot read SVG.
Does an SVG logo lose quality when scaled?
No. SVG describes shapes with math, so it re-renders crisply at any size — from a favicon to a billboard — without ever becoming blurry or pixelated.
Why does my PNG logo look blurry?
A PNG has a fixed pixel size. Showing it larger than exported, or on a high-density screen, stretches those pixels and softens the edges. Export a larger PNG, or use the SVG.
Should I use JPG for a logo?
No. JPG has no transparency (so it adds a background box) and is lossy, which smears the crisp edges of a mark. Use SVG or PNG for logos, never JPG.
Which format do I give a printer?
A vector file — usually a PDF or EPS exported from your logo — so the printer can scale it to any size cleanly. Keep the SVG as the master you generate those from.
Sources
- Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2 — W3C
- Image file type and format guide — MDN Web Docs